Fluid management system for arthroscopic surgery

ABSTRACT

An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity and in particular for use in arthroscopic surgery having a pressurized fluid circuit for supplying irrigation fluid and a vacuum fluid circuit for withdrawing waste fluid from the cavity. In a preferred embodiment there is an uninterrupted fluid supply comprised of a plurality of sterile solution saline bags with an automatic spiker to perforate the bags. The system is processor controlled with numerous safety and design features to automate arthroscopy to the highest degree possible. Some of the features include the monitoring and tracking of cavity pressure and flow rates to predetermined pressure and flow rates, tracking cavity to mean blood pressure, overpressure protection, a plurality of pressure and flow rate baseline settings, monitoring, setting and controlling saline supply, and specialized functions for providing pressure and flow rates for typical surgical procedures such as lavage, clear view, and burr/shaver. One or more vacuum discharge lines may be provided with an automatic self-cleaning feature. The system is compact and optionally employs a number of disposable components, including a novel fluid accumulator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is an application based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/001,483, filed Jul. 18, 1995.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to endoscopic procedures which require a fluid medium, and more particularly with arthroscopic surgery.

2. Background of the Invention

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive therapeutic and/or diagnostic procedure, during which small sized visualization and surgical tools are introduced into a joint body cavity (most commonly a knee) through very small incisions. Typically, at least three incisions are employed for a therapeutic procedure and at least two for a diagnostic procedure. During the surgery, irrigation of the joint is necessary for the following reasons:

(1) Distention of the joint is desirable for better visualization and access achieved by an increased joint or tissue separation. This is accomplished by application of pressure through the medium of the irrigation fluid to the tissue structure and causes closing of the blood vessels;

(2) Flow of the irrigation fluid through the joint keeps the field of view clear and often evacuates most of the loose debris;

(3) The fluid keeps the joint lubricated and replaces lost body fluids.

There are thus two independent factors at work here, the pressure and the flow rate of the irrigation fluid. The function and need for independent control of these two factors can be illustrated by the following situations:

(a) There are times during the surgical procedure when one needs to view and reach the far or posterior end of the joint. The joint separation needs to be increased without any need for an increased flow. A higher pressure in the joint will achieve this.

(b) If there is debris or bleeding in the joint, a quick flush of fluid is needed to clear the field of view. Such conditions require a higher fluid flow rate and with slightly higher pressure, assuming the joint separation is adequate.

(c) When an accessory instrument is used, like a shaver with wall suction, a higher fluid inflow is required to keep up with the increased demand and prevent the joint from collapsing. A higher flow rate but the same set pressure is needed here. Traditionally, the typical solution is to use sterile fluid bags hung above the level of the patient which are connected to the joint by a tube. The bags are raised to obtain more pressure and the flow rate is controlled by using variable clamps on the tubing leading to and away from the patient. The control for the two operations is manual and decided upon by the surgeon.

Furthermore, when burring and shaving large amounts of debris forms and can quickly block the exit port leading from the body cavity.

Thus there is a continuing need to improve automated pressure regulating systems and other systems used in arthroscopic or other fluid related procedures in order to provide for automated handling of various aspects of the procedure which the surgeon or supporting staff would otherwise need to handle manually.

There is further a need during arthroscopic surgery--which can last from a few minutes to several hours--to change saline bags. Up to a dozen or more saline bags may be required in an operation, and during a manual spiking of the bag, when infusing saline solution from the bag to the body cavity being operated on, air may be accidentally introduced into the fluid tube leading to the body cavity and may interfere with visualization, and saline solution may be spilled. Saline bags may also run dry unless medical personnel attend to the bags. In addition, often the number of bags needed to complete the operation is not estimated properly. Furthermore, in gravity fed pressurized saline infusions of the type described above, the pressure inside the tube leading to the body cavity can only be varied by raising or lowering the saline bag, which limits the range of pressure achievable and is not accurate.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,462 (the "462 patent" to DeSatnick et al.) discloses an irrigation system for use in arthroscopic surgery that employs pressure feedback to control pressure and flow rates. However, the suction in the '462 patent is due solely to atmosphere from a syphon effect, and there is no provision for providing a greater than atmosphere vacuum. Furthermore, the '462 patent does not supply pressurized fluid in the inflow line greater than the gravity head from the supply of saline solution, that is, the pressurized supply fluid is limited by the height of the saline bag rack, which is in turn is limited by the height of an average nurse and the ceiling height of the operating theater. In addition, the pressure feedback control system of the '462 patent, though a closed loop, tends to react passively to changes in body cavity pressure, to vary the outflow valve closing rate and the speed of the inflow line pump, in a lagging manner, with no ability to actively predict changes in pressure and/or flow rate. Rather, the control system hunts and seeks to find the optimal flow rate and pressures in a passive, mechanical manner once an imbalance in joint cavity pressure is detected. As a consequence, the system described in the '462 patent seems to be prone to relatively wide swings in actual flowrate and pressure about the desired parameters that is disconcerting to surgeons. Furthermore, there is no provision in the '462 patent for the automatic, uninterrupted supply of saline solution throughout an operation.

The present invention offers an improved design to the irrigation device found in the '462 patent by incorporating, among other features, a high vacuum (greater than from atmosphere alone) suction from the body cavity being irrigated, improved operation of the flow control using a plurality of valves downstream of the body cavity, a more accurate pressure transducer, a pressurized inflow line that does not depend solely on the gravity head, a spiking mechanism for saline bags for the continuous flow of fluid from the saline bags with a plurality of built-in safety features, and a microprocessor controlled feedback operation that is not passive but, using software, can actively predict and anticipate changes in flowrate and/or pressure to achieve smoother tracking of pressure and flow rates.

In conventional arthroscopic or fluid dependent systems, pressure is sensed in the surgical cavity with either a relatively large diameter dedicated cannula or is incorporated into an inflow or outflow cannula. Liquid/air separation is accomplished with a diaphragm immediately adjacent to the operating site. Some disadvantages of such conventional cavity pressure sensing systems are that: a) the pressure sense line and liquid/air chamber adds bulk to the irrigation fluid supply line and are cumbersome to handle; and b) the elastic forces from the liquid/air diaphragm either introduce errors in pressure readings or system has to be calibrated to obtain accurate pressure data. The pressure sensing system of the present invention is an improvement over this prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention, which in one preferred embodiment is called the AC2000 Fluid Management System or AquaCenter 2000 (AC2000), is a complete, self-contained, portable fluid management system for use in arthroscopic surgical procedures or any other fluid dependent surgical irrigation procedure. The major features of the portable, self-contained fluid management system include a self-contained and automatic fluid supply system comprising a sterile solution supply cabinet that allows for an adequate supply of sterile solution bags for completing most arthroscopic or other fluid related procedures in an automated manner; an automatic fluid delivery and control system including a pump and inflow tubing connected to a cannula or scope; an automatic fluid retrieval system including tubing from an outflow cannula or scope and a cavity pressure control valve, and including tubing from a motorized shaver or other vacuum related instruments with a liquid sensor and control valve for providing for the flow requirements of a motorized shaver or other vacuum related instruments; a cavity pressure sensing and control system which maintains cavity pressure at a desired level; a disposable tubing system comprising an inflow line, pressure sense line, pressure compensation line, patient outflow line, motorized shaver outflow line, floor waste retrieval line, and drape fluid retrieval line; a self-contained waste collection system including a waste receiver cart with capacity for an adequate quantity of waste receiver canisters to complete most arthroscopic or other fluid related procedures, and a vacuum system, driven independently of the fluid drive pump, for driving the fluid retrieval system and floor and drape vacuum pickup.

More specifically, the present invention includes the following features:

1. Automatically sequencing and spiking of sterile solution bags as needed to provide an uninterrupted supply of fluid throughout the case.

2. Means for sensing of pressure in the surgical cavity.

3. Means for setting desired cavity pressure manually or automatically in relationship to the patient's blood pressure.

4. Ability to set flow and pressure independently of each other.

5. Controller for maintaining set cavity pressure.

6. Out of Tolerance Flow Controller for adjusting from set flow rate when required to maintain set cavity pressure.

7. A liquid sensor and controller to automatically provide for the flow needs of most any motorized shaver and/or other vacuum related instruments.

8. Auto-sequenced and manual functions displayed on a console including lavage, clear view, prime, drain, burr, pause/run, alarm silence, power on/off, and a surgical diagnostic mode which provides means for setting pressure for distention of surgical cavity with no egress cannula.

9. A help mode (message center) on a console to help users set up or to identify malfunctions.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide an automated fluid delivery system for the continuous supply of fluid to a body cavity from a plurality of sterile bags (or containers), with the minimum amount of human intervention, and without having to interrupt an operation to change bags. The present invention further employs safety features to indicate when flow is cut off, when flow is resumed, and sensors and check valves for overpressure, for pressure sensing within the body cavity, and for suction backflow.

Thus in one preferred embodiment of the present invention for use in arthroscopy, there is provided in an apparatus (the AquaCenter 2000, AC2000) for storing saline bags and providing total fluid management in arthroscopy. The apparatus has a user-input console, and a door opening to a series of elevated and inclined racks. Each rack holds up to three saline bags, chained together in series. All the bags lead to an inflow manifold where a safety device (a flow-interrupt/air sensor valve) is present. From the manifold a positive displacement peristaltic pump pumps the saline fluid to a removable cartridge accumulator, where bubbles are removed and surges are attenuated. Thereupon, in response to an improved pressure transducer sensing pressure inside the body cavity, to user input as to the type of operation being performed and from software, a processor controls pump speed and/or one or more exit valves to vary the degree of pressure and/or flow rate inside the body cavity being irrigated. Downstream of the body cavity, and working independently from the compressor driving the positive displacement pump, is a vacuum compressor that keeps a vacuum tank at high vacuum (potentially much greater than atmosphere) which can be used both with particular surgical tools and in connection with an exit tube leading from the body cavity to suck waste fluid and debris from the body cavity. A waste trap is employed to filter out solid waste from the waste fluid slurry.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an improved pneumatically driven linear actuator spiking assembly employing a spiker needle/trocar to drive a normally withdrawn saline infusion bag spike into the saline bag. An arming switch on the apparatus acts as a safety.

In yet another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed an improved pressure transducer that employs a novel design to make pressure readings inside a body cavity more accurate.

In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic body cavity pressure tracking feature that automatically varies cavity pressure according to the patient s mean blood pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of the operation of the principal components used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the cabinet housing assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows one preferred embodiment of the spiker assembly of the present invention:

FIG. 3a shows a top plan view of the saline bag spiker assembly;

FIG. 3b shows a side cross sectional view;

FIG. 3c and 3d show the spiker perforating a saline bag; and

FIGS. 3e and 3f show top cross-sectional views of the piston and piston housing of the spiker assembly.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the flow interrupt sensor manifold of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows one preferred embodiment of the removable accumulator cartridge of the present invention:

FIG. 5a shows the front of the accumulator;

FIG. 5b shows the back view of the accumulator; and

FIG. 5c shows the side view of the accumulator.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the console used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic of the improved cavity pressure sensing system of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic of another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning attention to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown the overall configuration of the apparatus of the fluid management system, which in a preferred embodiment is termed the AquaCenter 2000 (AC2000). It should be understood by one skilled in the art that while in the preferred embodiment the supply of irrigation fluid is a sterile fluid such as saline solution, the present invention may be used to supply an uninterrupted supply of any body fluid to a body cavity, including the supply of blood, blood plasma or medicated fluids.

The AC2000 fluid management apparatus is processor controlled, by processor 10, with user input from console 12 and/or a hand held remote control 14. The AC2000 has a housing 15, which contains a cabinet for storage of sterile solution supply, shown as a plurality of saline bags 20. The fluid management system is shown in FIG. 1 as having a pressurized fluid supply circuit 17 and vacuum assisted waste discharge fluid circuit 17'. In a preferred embodiment of the AC2000 both the vacuum system and the pressurized supply system are compactly housed in the same housing 15, as indicated by FIG. 2, with the supply fluid and discharge conduits spaced compactly together. In FIG. 2 each shelf of the housing 15 contains up to three bags connected serially to one another through their automatic spiker assemblies, but a fewer or greater number of bags or containers and corresponding spikers may be used. The bags are kept sealed in a sterile condition until needed, and connected to cabinet shelf supply conduits 22 at each rack level, which link together the spiker assemblies, which form a auto-spiker tubing set assembly. The saline bags are spiked with a saline bag spiker assembly 30 allowing fluid to flow along the cabinet supply conduits 22 to a manifold 35 in an uninterrupted manner, without the necessity of changing bags during an operation. The manifold 35 is plugged into a flow interrupt safety switch 51, as described herein. The conduits 22 of the supply cabinet are pressurized, typically at some pressure value greater than atmosphere, and are closed to atmosphere (though safety vents may in incorporated into the conduits in the event of overpressure). From the manifold 35 fluid is driven by and through the pressurized fluid supply pump 40, which may be any kind of pump but preferably a positive displacement pump of the peristaltic kind to avoid fluid contamination by the pump. The saline supply fluid is pumped by a plurality of rollers of peristaltic pump 40 (as shown in FIG. 5a as rollers 40'), working on the flexible tubing against a roller guide track (not shown), which slides open to allow one to withdraw the flexible tubing 42, which leads to and wraps around the peristaltic pump rollers, and is optionally preferably disposable. Saline fluid is driven from the inlet of the peristaltic pump assembly into the inlet of a removable cartridge accumulator 46, which is removable and preferably disposable. Also optionally disposable but reusable upon sterilization is the flexible tubing connected to the cartridge accumulator leading to the patient (supply conduit 48), as well as the discharge tubing (waste fluid return conduits 68, 69) leading from the patient.

Cartridge accumulator 46 serves a variety of purposes, such as allowing any air bubbles trapped in the fluid supply conduits to escape from the saline fluid solution, acting as a surge suppressor, and acting as a pressurized reservoir for the irrigation fluid. The accumulator is closed to atmosphere but has a plurality of escape valves on its back side that vent to atmosphere, as the accumulator can be pressurized at pressures greater than atmosphere to deliver saline solution at pressures greater than conventional gravitational head.

Pressurized irrigation fluid traveling downstream of the cartridge accumulator 46 travels through the patient inflow supply line 48, through a trocar, cannula, Luer fitting, surgical tool or other suitable device attached to the supply line at the incision site 50, and into body cavity 52 (indicated as by dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2). A pressure transducer sense line 54 is parallel and in communication with the irrigation fluid supply line 46 and the pressure inside body cavity 52, as described more fully below, and together with the pressure sensing system 56, allows the processor that controls the overall system to make accurate readings of the static pressure inside the knee with respect to atmosphere and the pressure in the fluid supply line 46. Another pressure transducer 56' may sense the pressure inside the supply line 48 and signal the processor. Thereon, based on the sensed pressure data and in response to user input the processor may change the speed of the drive pump 40 and/or the flow rate through the exit valves 60, 62 downstream of the body cavity 52 that control the flow through the discharge conduits 68, 69, to alter the rate of flow into and passing through the body cavity and/or the pressure inside the knee. The software in processor 10 is designed to track preselected desired pressure and flowrates in response to measured and derived pressures and flowrates in an automatic manner.

Downstream of the body cavity 52 are two exit valves, 60 and 62, each controlling the flow through vacuum assisted waste fluid return conduits 68, 69, respectively. The waste fluid return conduits 68, 69 are each connected to body cavity outflow cannula ports at incision sites at the body cavity 52. The valves and waste fluid discharge conduits are part of a hard vacuum fluid discharge system connected to a vacuum tank 70 and serviced by a vacuum compressor pump 72. Valve 60, the outflow actuator "R-valve", controls the flow through patient outflow return line 68 (one of two discharge fluid conduits), which ordinarily carries the bulk of the waste fluid from the body cavity. Valve 62, the shaver/suction instrument actuator "T-valve", controls the flow in the shaver suction line 69 (the second of the two fluid discharge conduits), which is usually used during shaving and burring operations during the arthroscopy. The R and T valves may be connected with a Y-tee (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 downstream of the body cavity) to a single vacuum line that leads to a waste receptacle, such as canister 73 in FIG. 1, a two part waste receptacle manufactured by Baxter Healthcare, part nos. 64-B38B and 23-2307C. Additional vacuum conduits and receptacles may be provided as need be, such as floor vacuum pickup 74, or a drape suction line at the patient. An optional fluid sensor such as liquid sensor 75 may be connected in-line to one or more of the lines, to indicate to the processor that liquid is still flowing through the line and exiting the body cavity 52.

Vacuum pump 72 periodically keeps vacuum tank 70 at a certain predetermined vacuum pressure, which is typically greater than the siphon effect created by atmosphere acting alone. In this way a hard vacuum may be formed that is independent of gravitational effects and does not depend on syphoning. Thus the hard vacuum fluid discharge system of the AC2000 more readily sucks out debris and waste fluid from the body cavity. A plurality of suitably placed check valves maintain the fluid discharge conduits in vacuum and prevent backflow. A filter 78 may be employed for the exhaust of vacuum compressor pump 72 to prevent contamination by any airborne waste debris. The plurality of waste receptacle canisters such as 73 and 80 are preferably disposable. The waste receptacles 73, 80 are attached to the housing for a portable, self-contained design.

Software driven processor 10 communicates with and controls all the major components of the AC2000 through I/O lines and interface and control circuitry, known per se in the art. All major components of the system communicate with the processor, which preferably is a microprocessor (μP). Thus both the peristaltic pump motor 40 and vacuum pump 72 communicate with the processor 10 through control lines. Numerous other components of the system also communicate with the processor via suitable control lines, such as the fluid interrupt sensor 15 in flow interrupt manifold 35, spiker assemblies 30, cavity pressure sensing system 56, pressure transducer 56', R-valve and T-valves 60, 62, a blood pressure monitor, fixed console 12, hand held remote console 14, water level sensors in fluid cartridge accumulator 46, and optional flow sensors 75.

To avoid potential overpressure of the fluid supply conduit 48, an optional bypass valve may be present in the fluid supply conduit upstream of the body cavity and may act as a safety valve in the event of overpressure and/or notify the processor in the event of overpressure.

Furthermore, to aid in diagnostic procedures, there may be provided bypass ports just upstream and just downstream of the body cavity 52, on the supply and discharge lines, to allow fluid to bypass the body cavity when the two supply and discharge lines are connected through the bypass ports.

In addition, during certain procedures involving the shaving and burring of human tissue, the T-valve 62 of the waste discharge vacuum conduit 69 is "burped " or randomly or selectively opened and closed automatically from a closed state to a wide open state for a predetermined short period of time by the processor in order to help prevent the accumulation of waste debris in the shaver suction line. The R-valve 60 of the vacuum discharge conduit 68 may also be "burped" by the processor. Typically "burping" occurs every 15 seconds and upon any overpressure situation (e.g. where the cavity pressure exceeds a set pressure). Burping may also be used to reduce body cavity pressure in the event an overpressure is detected.

A fixed console 12 is used as the main display and control panel to input data into the processor and receive information relating to the status of the system, such as pressure readings, type of medical operation to be performed (e.g., lavage, drain, burr, clear view), system operations (e.g., priming the pump, pause, run, autopressure, increasing cavity pressure and/or flow rates). A portable hand held remote console is also provided with some of the same features as the fixed console for use by the surgeon performing the arthroscopy.

Though the preferred embodiment of the invention is for use in performing arthroscopic surgery with saline fluid, other fluids may be employed in the present invention to perform other surgical operations, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Turning attention to FIGS. 2 and 3 regarding the overall operation of achieving an uninterrupted supply of saline irrigation fluid, there is shown a perspective view of the AC2000 in one preferred embodiment of the fluid management system a housing 15, with a cabinet, having a four shelf trays 90, each of which has three bays, which are concave, inclined at an angle to the horizontal, and receive saline bags 20. The bags are made of the flexible plastic material, with a outflow port nozzle 95 that receives the saline bag spiker, as shown in FIG. 3b. While in a preferred embodiment the bags are flexible and hold 3000 ml of saline fluid, other size bags and different types of containers, including rigid containers, may be employed.

The housing 15 of the AC2000 is mounted on wheels or coasters with a plurality of handles for maximum mobility and a swinging door (not shown) covering the front. The unit is portable, and stands 60" inches high and weighs approximately 180 lbs. when fully loaded. Console 12 gives the user information and performs vital functions as described further herein.

Optionally disposable, but reusable, flexible tubing 22 leads from the spiker assembly 30 of the saline bags to the fluid interrupt sensing manifold 35. The spiker assembly, as described further herein, is constructed so flexible tubing 22 remains closed to atmosphere, and the spiker needle trocar is ordinarily withdrawn into a spiker housing assembly when not inserted into a saline bag, thus preventing saline fluid from leaking and atmosphere from being introduced.

Two sets of tubing are found on the AC2000, an outer set and inner set. The outer set is designed to be detachable from the AC2000 and ordinarily be disposable (the preferred U.S. practice) but may be sterilized and reused. The outer tubing set comprises the patient inflow line 48, the pressure sense line 54, a pressure compensating line for the pressure transducer, as shown in FIG. 7 and as further described herein, at least one patient outflow line, such as line 68 (as best seen in FIG. 1), which is connected to vacuum, an optional second vacuum outflow line for a shaver or other vacuum related instrument, such as line 69, a floor waste retrieval line 74 (as seen in FIG. 2), a drape fluid retrieval line (not shown) and other optional lines leading to the patient. These lines are bundled for convenience as one would commonly do in electrical wiring for convenient handling. One advantage of providing for shaver flow requirements with the AC2000 tubing set is the reduction of tubing packages required for surgeries.

The inner tube set, which may also be disposable (as per U.S. medical practice) but can be reused, consists of the tubing leading from the saline bags to the spiker device, the tubing 22 interconnecting adjacent spikers and leading to the manifold 35, the inflow line 42 leading from the manifold 35 to the peristaltic pump and around the head to the cartridge accumulator 46.

Because of the different tubing sizes available for different bundles, each packaged tube set may be equipped with an identifying means such as a barcode or a magnetic strip which communicates to the AC2000 processor the particular type of procedure for which the packaged tubeset is intended to be used. Once the particular type of procedure is known to the AC2000, it may then automatically initialize its various subsystems to accommodate the particular procedure identified. The tube set contain additional tubing beyond the tubing contained in conventional arthroscopic or fluid related systems.

Turning attention now to FIG. 3, there is shown the spiker assembly of the AC2000. FIG. 3a shows a top view of a shelf with the left hand side cut away to expose the piston cylinder 140 that drives the spiker 30, the middle view is of the slots 31 in the shelf that hold the spiker assembly, which is snap fit in, while the right hand side of FIG. 3a shows a top view of a spiker assembly 30 engaging a saline bag 20. As shown in FIG. 3b-3f, a retractable and protractile hollow piston plunger 110 has at its tip 115 a trocar or hollow needle spiker 120 and is housed in a slidable but fluid tight manner in the cylindrical housing chamber 124. O-rings 117, 122 provide a fluid tight seal between the hollow piston and the outside, so that air and contaminants are not introduced into the system during the changing of the saline bag when the piston is retracted and during operation when the piston is protracted.

The housing chamber 124 is detachably fixed at its base to the cabinet in a snap-fit manner, as can be seen by examining FIGS. 3b and 3c in reference to the slots 31 in FIG. 3a. A safety arming switch (not shown) may be triggered to notify the processor when the spiker assembly is in place so that the driving pneumatic cylinder 140 of the piston 110 may be armed to fire. The housing chamber 124 has fluid ports 126 on each side of it, which when aligned with corresponding ports 128 on the piston plunger 110 allow fluid communication with the spiker bag contents and the AC2000, and allow the automatic spiker stations (the spikers at each bag) to communicate with one another and downstream with the manifold 35 via shelf conduit tubing 22 which interconnects serially the spiker stations.

As shown in FIGS. 3b-3d, actuation of the trocar spiker is through a linear actuator such as a pneumatic cylinder 140 which receives at its rod end 150 the vertical projection 152 that is fixed to the piston plunger 110, and fits through a slot in the shelf of the housing. When the pneumatic cylinder is actuated in response to a signal from the processor the piston retracts and moves the plunger 110 forward through its housing 124 and extends the trocar 120 past the housing tip portion 160, which is engaged with the saline bag tubing, causing the trocar to pierce the sterile membrane of the saline bag. A safety latch (not shown) may be set to act as a stop to keep the pneumatic cylinder from retracting, and the safety may be disarmed by the processor to arm the spiker. Fluid begins to flow through the trocar and the hollow piston plunger, then through the side ports and into the cabinet supply conduits.

Although in a preferred embodiment the saline bags are spiked sequentially by the AC2000. As can be seen by inspection the sequential firing should be done in an orderly manner from left to right starting with spiking the bag furthest from the manifold 35 so that the closure of one spiker station to flow when a saline bag is exhausted does not block the other adjacent bags. Though in a preferred embodiment the spiking of saline bags is sequential, it is within the scope of the present invention that two or more bags may be simultaneously spiked if so desired, in a similar orderly manner.

Turning attention now to FIG. 4, there is shown the flow interrupt safety manifold used in the fluid management system. The manifold 35 allows fluid communication between each shelf level of the supply cabinet, to allow them serial access between spiker stations on each shelf and parallel access between shelves. Thus intake ports 23 of hollow cylindrical manifold 35 each receive a portion of shelf tubing 22 from each shelf (four in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), while outflow port 41 feeds into the supply tubing 42 that leads to the pump 40. Manifold 35 acts as a tiny reservoir of irrigation fluid, holding about 25-30 ml of fluid. When manifold 35 runs dry, it signals to the processor that the saline bag(s) feeding into the manifold has been spent (or flow has been interrupted) and another bag(s) needs to be spiked. The signal indicating that the manifold is dry is generated by flow interrupt/air sensing fluid sensor 51, that communicates with the interior of manifold 35 through a port in the manifold that snaps into the sensor. The sensor 52 has two prongs 53 and 55, which, when submerged in fluid, conduct electricity and remain a closed circuit, but when they are exposed to air, become an open circuit. A signal indicating an open circuit is then generated and related to the processor.

As an alternative to or in conjunction with the sensor in the flow interrupt manifold 35, other means of indicating when the saline bags have run out of fluid, such as counting the revolutions of the peristaltic pump 40 and estimating the fluid displaced, or employing additional sensors, may be used in the present invention.

Turning attention now to FIGS. 5, there is shown the removable cartridge accumulator 46 of the AC2000. As best shown in FIG. 5a, the cartridge receives the part of the patient inflow supply line 42 at its top end 172 that proceeds to wrap around the peristaltic pump 40, and returns to empty into the port 174 of the cartridge 46 and into the reservoir 176 of the cartridge to form a fluid reservoir having a fluid level 178. Thereupon any bubbles present settle out of the saline solution, the pressure surge from the peristaltic pump is attenuated, and a reservoir of saline fluid is formed between two minimum and maximum fluid levels. As shown sterile saline irrigation fluid exits the accumulator into supply line 48. The minimum and maximum fluid levels permitted are demarcated by two fluid level sensors 180, 182, that sense the maximum and minimum fluid levels. The sensors are of the same two prong open circuit/close circuit type as found in the flow interrupt manifold 35, where two prongs, when submerged in fluid (when fluid level 178 covers them), conduct electricity and remain a closed circuit (indicating fluid is present between the prongs), but when the prongs are exposed to air, become an open circuit. In this way the processor knows when the reservoir is nearing its capacity or when the reservoir is running dry. By receiving signals from these sensors the processor can tell whether the fluid level has reached the minimum or maximum recommended levels.

As shown in FIGS. 5b and 5c, at the back of the cartridge accumulator and inside the cartridge accumulator (making the entire unit optionally disposable) are received portions of two flexible tubes from the suction lines 68 and 69 of the patient outflow line and the shaver suction line, respectively. The AC2000 compactly houses both the pressurized conduit fluid circuit and vacuum conduit fluid circuit, which are separate fluid circuits as indicated by dashed lines 17 and 17' in FIG. 1, in a compact manner side by side in housing 15. The two tube portions pass through into the cartridge accumulator and are joined at a Y-connection as shown and drain via vacuum line 73' to waste canister 73. The vacuum discharge conduits 68, 69 are pinched by the R-valve and T-valve pinch valve actuators 60, 62 acting through windows 210 and 212 in the cartridge accumulator, to close the flow through the flexible tubes. In this way the R-valves and T-valves close the vacuum discharge conduits in the preferred embodiment, when it is desired to restrict the flow and/or change the pressure in the body cavity. The R-valve and T-valve actuators may be a ON/OFF type pinch actuator that either fully pinch close or are fully open, or the actuators may be variably opening and closing actuators to allow partial and variable flow through the suction line R and T valves when the valves are actuated. Suitable signals would be present from both valves to and from the processor to indicate their state and to regulate them. Processor controlled pinch valves may also be employed on the inflow line 42 or any other conduit. Other valve assemblies may be employed to restrict inflow or outflow without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The air in pressurized fluid accumulator 46 is vented to atmosphere through filtered vent port valves 220, shown in FIG. 5b.

Turning attention now to FIG. 6, there is shown the front console used in a preferred embodiment of AC2000 fluid management system. The console 12 employs a touch membrane pad for input and a LED diodes for visual display. A plurality of status lights 300 are shown on the left hand side of the console, one for each spiker station bag, to indicate which saline bags have been spiked, as the bags are spiked sequentially in the preferred embodiment. A plurality of buttons are used to communicate to the processor which operation or function is to be performed. There are buttons 302 and 304 for increasing or decreasing target flow rate and cavity pressure manually to a certain predetermined baseline level, where the processor will then automatically attempt to maintain. Other buttons provide for certain common predetermined surgical procedures such as "drain" 311, "lavage" 312, "clear view" 313, "burr" and "shaver" 314 (upper and lower half of button 314). A more detailed description of these features is provided herein. In addition, an automatic pressure tracking button 319 is provided for the feature where the processor of the AC2000 will vary the pressure and flow rate into the body cavity to track the mean blood pressure of the patient, which typically varies sinusoidally, as measured from a blood pressure monitor input transducer (not shown) that inputs data into the processor 10.

Further input button functions are provided on the touch pad for priming the pump to relieve the system of air and initialize it at "prime " button 316, a "pause" button 317 (lower half of button) for suspending and maintaining present system parameters, a "run" button 317 (upper half) for resuming flow.

Other buttons such as buttons 360 may be employed for arming the spiker assembly, for providing a "menu" button 320 for step by step instructions for set up and operation (which may be displayed in the LED interactive display 330), a demo or tutorial button for simulated procedures, an alarm silence button 340 for silencing any alarm speakers, a scroll button 341 scrolling through the interactive display 330, a backlight button 342 for lighting in the AC2000, such as in the spiker cabinet, a power button for powering the AC2000 and other suitable buttons for other features of the apparatus as taught herein.

Status lights are also present in console 12 for indicating various states of the AC2000. A body cavity pressure gauge with a bar graph output 375 indicates actual and/or desired cavity pressure in any preselected units, such as ft. of water or mm-Hg (with a typical range for pressure and vacuum inside the body cavity of between 0-150 mm-Hg). Display windows 370 shows selected pressure baseline settings, while windows 380 show actual pressures by the pressure sensing system of the present invention. Other status lights at 390 indicate whether there is an overpressure (such as when the waste canisters are full or the tubing is kinked); whether flow rate is set for "max.", "high", "mid" or "low" flow rates (typically the set flow range for the AC2000 is between 0-2000 ml/min); whether bags need to be reloaded; which auto spiker station (bag) is being spiked and drained, whether there is a blockage, out of fluid, overpressure or other malfunction, and other functions of interest. The LED display 330 may output text for the operator of the apparatus. A printer port may be provided for printing data. Alarms and other audiovisual displays may be provided for certain procedures and states of the AC2000.

Turning attention now to FIG. 7, there is shown the improved cavity pressure sensing system 56 of the present invention. The AC2000 device effectively senses pressure in the surgical cavity using a differential pressure transducer and novel fluid circuits. Pressure is sensed in the surgical cavity 52 through a small diameter needle in-line with sense line 54 (e.g. an 18 gauge needle). A small diameter (e.g., approx. 0.050 inch I.D.) pressure sense line 54 and compensating line 720 (transducer vent drip line) are liquid-filled to eliminate pressure reading errors. Both the pressure sense line and the transducer vent line have air-filled portions connected to the transducer above liquid/air interface 710 (at line portions 715). The liquid/air interface 710 may be in the form of a spiral coil tubing set in the horizontal plane at 710 (perpendicular to the plane of the paper) that spirals about a vertical line parallel to line portion 715. Both lines 54, 710 are sufficient in length and configuration to assure that the liquid/air interfaces are at the same elevation to eliminate pressure reading errors. Fluid in the pressure sensing system comes from the irrigation fluid under pressure from the supply line 48 through the flow restrictors R1 and R2, and fluid in sense line 54 from the surgical cavity, with a compensating drip line 720, which ordinarily bleeds slightly to ensure no air bubbles are trapped in the sense line.

When pressure is sensed in body cavity 52, the pressure is transmitted by the fluid through the sense line 54 through a filter (not shown) to the pressure transducer 740 located on the machine housing 15. A differential pressure transducer 740 is used to measure the pressure of liquid in a cavity. A standard off the shelf A/D pressure transducer may be employed for the differential pressure transducer 740, such as sold by Motorola, part no. MPX-700DP. The head change due to any relative change of height of the sense spinal needle to the transducer is compensated by the second line on a reference pressure side of the pressure transducer, drip line 720, as can be seen in FIG. 7. This line, the drip (or compensating) line 720 further may bleed out any air trapped by dripping out a minute quantity of fluid. The "sense" line 54 and compensating drip line 720 are preferably of the same length, and both physically attached near the cavity. Fluid under pressure that feeds the body cavity, sense line and drip line comes from the supply pressure line 48. The fluid from this source passes through restrictors R1 and R2, which restrict the fluid flow to a very low level for accurate pressure measurement. In this manner, the two sense lines are maintained full of the sterile fluid to provide an accurate transmittal of pressure from the patient cavity and to compensate for fluid head differences within the pressure sense system.

The compensating line is attached to the sense line to measure the head loss or gain in the compensating line. Since the head loss or gain in both the sense line and the compensating line are identical and are physically subtracted by the differential pressure transducer, the transducer s electrical output will be a measure of only the absolute pressure within the cavity, regardless of the difference in liquid head height between the cavity and the remote transducer.

The equation for the electrical output of the transducer is as follows:

    Pc+(P2-Pa)=P1 and P1-P2=Pc-Pa, since Pa=atmospheric=0, then Pc=P1-P2

Since the transducer has some gain (K), then its electrical output is proportional to:

    Volts out=K(P1-P2)=proportional to cavity pressure, Pc.

As explained herein, the output of the transducer 740 is supplied to a control system governed by processor 10 to regulate and control the pressure and liquid flow to the body cavity 52.

Another advantage of such a cavity sensing system, in addition to the head compensating feature, is that positive liquid flow may be maintained into the cavity during pressure sensing, which precludes the entrance of gas (or air) that could modify apparent liquid bulk modulus or provide bubbles that might cause two-state flow, water hammer or slugging in the control system.

Some additional advantages of the pressure sensing system of the AC2000 are: (a) the insertion of the slender pressure sensor (spinal needle) into the cavity does not necessarily require an incision and thus does not leave a scar; and (b) that, because of their configuration, the pressure sense lines are smaller and less cumbersome, and therefore easier for a physician to handle compared to that of conventional pressure sensing lines.

In another modification of the pressure sensing system, the compensating line may be eliminated while the overall fluid circuit remains the same. The head loss or gain that is present in the sense line may be zeroed out by the computer through software that estimates the head loss or gain and allows for that factor when computing pressure.

Turning attention now to FIG. 8, though in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the saline containers are flexible bags that are supported in bays of shelf trays of a cabinet housing, it is envisioned that a traditional upright configuration may be employed, so that the one or more flexible bags may be vertically hung from a rack in a carousel manner. This embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8 the post 818 fits in a telescoping manner over post 817, allowing the carousel rack 819 to rotate, and allowing the ends of bags 810 to touch the spikers 830, which are otherwise the same as the spikers 30 shown in the other embodiments. Thus the bags 810 may still be spiked by spikers 830 in this configuration (with the spikers pointing upwards) and the irrigation fluid from the bags may then be pressurized by the system using a positive displacement pump as before; or, in the alternative, the pressurized system may be dispensed with and traditional gravity feed techniques may be employed with the spikers. Bags may be separated from one another by dividers 821 as shown. Furthermore, while a plurality of flexible bags are shown in the FIG. 8 embodiment, they may be replaced with one or more rigid and/or larger containers.

The advantage with the embodiment of FIG. 8 is that certain hospital personnel are more comfortable dealing with saline bags mounted in the traditional upright manner. Further the FIG. 8 embodiment is more portable and weighs less, about 60 lbs., than the AC2000 of FIG. 2. The display console (not shown) and other major components may be similar to the embodiment described and shown in the FIG. 2 embodiment.

Turning attention now to the embodiment of FIG. 9, there is shown another fluid management system of the present invention, which is processor based and otherwise operate the same as the FIG. 2 embodiment. A plurality of fluid bags 920, which may be larger than the average saline bag of the FIG. 2 embodiment, have their contents pumped by peristaltic pump 940 into a 3 liter accumulator reservoir 946, suspended above the patient on a IV pole 947, which has a weight sensor 947' built into it so that when the weight of fluid in the accumulator 946 drops below a certain predetermined threshold, the processor knows that the saline fluid bags need to be replenished. The accumulator 946 is pressurized and vents to atmosphere through a filtered vent 949. As before, a supply conduit 948 feeds from the accumulator into the patient. In another embodiment of the invention of FIG. 9, the accumulator is not pressurized. Pressure is produced through the gravity head associated with the accumulator being raised a certain height from the floor. In this embodiment the height of the accumulator, as determined by IV pole 947, and thus the pressure head, may be changed either manually or electro-mechanically, as is known per se in the IV pole art.

The following method steps illustrate in basic form how to set-up and use the tubing set of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as it relates to the processor based embodiments:

1. Place the spiker assembly(s) of the inflow line into the corresponding positions on the shelf(s).

2. Place the pump tubing through the pump head.

3. Snap the accumulator module to the housing of the AC2000, and connect the entry and exit ports with the tubing from the pump and to the patient.

4. Connect the ports leading to and from the inflow manifold with the tubing from each auto-spiker tubing set assembly being used for the case.

5. Attach suction lines to appropriate waste canisters.

6. If applicable, connect appropriate line to the floor and drape waste fluid collection device.

7. Attach the appropriate tube lines to the shaver or other suction related instrument, the outflow cannula and, if applicable, the drape's fluid collection pouch.

8. Prime--inflow line, pressure sense line and pressure compensation line.

9. Surgeon to insert 18 gauge needle (pressure sensing probe) into an unobstructed area of the joint/cavity.

10. Connect inflow line to inflow cannula and pressure sense line to 18 gauge needle.

11. Surgeon sets pressure and flowrate.

12. Press "Run/Pause" to start flowing to begin surgery.

A more detailed set-up and operation instruction manual for a preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 2 (the AC2000 ) is attached hereto and forms a part of the present description of the invention as "Appendix A".

Turning attention now to certain particular operations using the AC2000 , the general operating parameters for the system will be described for several typical procedures during arthroscopic surgery, such as the operations "lavage", "clear view", "prime", "drain", "burr", "pause/run", "flow", "auto pressure", "set pressure", and "set flow rates", shown in FIG. 6.

For instance, when the "clear view", function button 313, is depressed, the system provides a sequence of flow rates and pressures that attempt to clear the view (as seen through an illuminated endoscope) of debris, typically by raising the pressure from whatever baseline pressure has been set, to dilate blood vessels within the body cavity and stop any blood flow, and increasing the flow rates from whatever baseline flow rate has been set. Typically this procedure is set for a two minute cycle (the time of the cycle may be adjusted for more or less than this number) where flow rates are increased 20% from baseline rates and pressure is increased 20% from baseline pressure. The "clear view", button 313 may be re-pressed prior to the completion of the cycle to return the AC2000 to its prior settings. Built in safety features prevent the AC2000 from exceeding certain safety limits with respect to pressure limits. A status light on the console indicates the function has been selected.

Regarding the "burr/shaver" button 314, when this function is selected the AC2000 provides the optimal inflow and suction flow rates to better maintain distention of the body cavity (typically a knee or shoulder joint), minimize viewing turbulence and fluid consumption during burring and shaving, which are performed by specialized tools that may be attached to the second shaver suction line 69 as shown in FIG. 1. A slightly different flow rate between "burr" and "shaver", applies, with pressure and flow rates for "shaver" being slightly greater than for "burr", but the functions are otherwise identical. When this button is depressed the processor of the AC2000 knows to activate the second suction discharge conduit 69.

Regarding the "lavage" function button 312, this function increases and then decreases the pressure and flow rates for a predetermined period of time over a cycle. Typically the fluid cycle is factory set for an increase of 25% in baseline pressure and flow rates for 10 seconds followed by a decrease to 75% of baseline pressures and flow rates for 10 seconds.

Regarding the "pause"/"run" and "drain" functions, buttons 317 and 311 in FIG. 6, these functions are related to the general operation of the system. For instance, "pause" will halt the operation of the AC2000 for a predetermined period of time and then resuming at the previous levels of flow rate, pressure and other state parameters of the system; "run" will negate the "pause" button and otherwise will start an operation that is suspended; "drain" will drain the fluid from inside the body cavity by halting the flow along the inflow supply line and opening the R and/or T valves controlling the waste discharge conduits to drain fluid from the body cavity. The "drain" function lasts until such time that the operator depresses the "drain" button again, stopping the procedure.

Likewise, the "flow" and "pressure" buttons 302 and 304 may be manually selected to a particular predetermined baseline that the processor will attempt to smoothly track the system to follow (subject to any safety overrides as described herein). For example, in a preferred embodiment the flow rates (which typically can be set to range from 0-2000 ml/min) may be set to four predetermined rates, in descending order, such as "max.", "high", "mid" and "low". In a preferred embodiment of the AC2000 , the "max.", flow rate is 1200-2000 ml/min., the "high" flow rate is 750-1200 ml/min., the "mid" flow rate is 300-750 ml/min., and the "low" flow rate is 0-300 ml/min.

Indicator lights may display which level has been selected. Pressure can also be manually set to a baseline pressure, in either feet of water or mm-Hg, with a bar graph display and visual gauge for both the actual and desired pressure values. Typically the present invention produces a range of pressures inside the body cavity 52 ranges between 10-150 (6.7 ft-wc), while the pressure inside the supply conduit 48, owing to pressure losses, is from between that pressure range found inside between the body cavity to up to 500 mm-Hg upstream of the body cavity. Likewise the range of vacuum produced inside the body cavity 52 by the vacuum fluid circuit ranges from up to 150 mm-Hg, while the vacuum produced in the discharge lines 68, 69, owing to vacuum pressure losses, is higher and from up to 150 mm-Hg in or near the body cavity to between 220-350 mm-Hg vacuum further downstream of the body cavity. However, greater or different pressure and vacuum values are possible within the body cavity and fluid conduits without departing from the scope of the invention. Differences in tolerance between desired pressure and actual pressure are preferably limited by the processor control system to about ±10 mm-Hg.

The processor of the present invention is software driven, with the software designed to anticipate likely flow rates, pressures, emergency conditions and other parameters as taught and disclosed herein to give stable output and prevent surges or unnecessary interruptions of the system. For example, in response to a line being kinked which would indicate a blockage, the AC2000 automatically suspends operation by going into the "pause" mode, and indicates that such a blockage is detected. Furthermore, the processor may be equipped with a table that will list indeterminate and unacceptable levels of pressure and flow rates, and either default to more acceptable levels and/or indicate an anomalous condition. With respect to all functions on the console the processor of the AC 2000 may employ algorithms to achieve a smooth, uniform tracking and performance to prevent unnecessary flow surges and overpressure or underpressure states. The processor is responsible for the numerous safety features that may be incorporated in the AC2000, such as responding to shut down or to place the system in a different state in response to such as indications out of flow in the supply conduit, no flow or lack of flow in the discharge conduits, overpressure or underpressure, blockage of the conduits, waste canister overflow, backflow, spiker arming, pressure and vacuum pump state, pressure accumulator and vacuum tank state, type of surgical procedure and other values that are taught or suggested by the present invention. Typically the processor samples the various major components of the AC2000 five times a second, though a different sampling rate may be chosen.

Although several preferred embodiments of this invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Accordingly it is to be understood that while the invention has been described above in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments, the description and examples are intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Aquarius Medical Corporation AquaCenter model 2000 Set-up and Operation Instruction Manual Read Prior to Use

Precautions

1. The AquaCenter model 2000 is a self-contained fluid management system offering automated multiple liter fluid delivery, intra-articular pressure/flow control and fluid retrieval for use in Arthroscopic Surgery Only.

2. The AquaCenter model 2000 should not be used without complete knowledge of the Operation Manual.

3. The AquaCenter model 2000 must be monitored during operation. Although the AquaCenter model 2000 offers factory pre-set modes of operation, the physician should still determine the optimal settings at all times.

4. The AquaCenter model 2000 should not be operated near areas where explosive gases are used.

5. In all cases, local practice and the authority of the physician take precedence over the procedures described here.

6. The AquaCenter model 2000 should be connected to an electrical receptacle marked Hospital Use or Hospital Grade which has been inspected for proper grounding.

7. Do not remove the AquaCenter model 2000 cover. If the cover is removed, any warranty in effect will be voided.

I. Preliminary Set-Up

A. Read Instruction Manual.

B. Turn power on.

C. Follow steps in Instruction Manual and/or Tutorial Mode (via interactive keys/display).

II. Set-up Instructions for Single-Use Main Tubing Set (includes Auto-Spiker Tubing Set Assembly and Patient Tubing Set Assembly) and Accessory Auto-Spiker Tubing Set

Note: Must use sterile technique at all times during assembly and operation.

A. Auto-Spiker Tubing Set Assembly

1. Loading the "sterile fluid bags"

a. Load the desired amount of sterile fluid bags (e.g. 1, 3, or 5 liter) into the appropriate "Auto-Spiker Station" (e.g. marked 1-12) inside the AquaCenter 2000.

2. Pre-loading the "Auto-Spiker Tubing Set Assembly"

a. Retract all of the machine spikers by selecting the "1-12" category with the "up/down" arrow buttons located on the display control panel; and confirm by viewing "no" lights (i.e. red or green) on the respective "Auto-Spiker Station" display control panel.

b. Place the single-use "Auto-Spiker Tubing Set Assembly" (i.e. three spikers) into the spiking receptacles loading position on either shelf A or shelf B, and place the "inflow manifold" into its receptacle located on the cabinet's right-side wall.

c. Add "Accessory Auto-Spiker Tubing Set Assembly(s) (up to three lines each, available as desired)

1. Place the "Accessory Auto-Spiker Tubing Set Assembly into the corresponding spiker receptacles on the appropriate shelve(s).

2. If user is prepared to spike, remove the sterile caps from the "Accessory Auto-Spiker Tubing Set Assembly" fluid line and "inflow manifold" then connect together.

3. Loading the Auto-Spiker Tubing Set Assembly(s) into the fluid bag(s)

a. Remove the sterile cap from the distal end of spiker.

b. Remove the sterile cap from the adjacent fluid bag's outflow port.

c. Insert the sterile spiker end into that fluid bag's outflow port, and insure that it mates with the fluid bag's seal diaphragm.

4. Loading/unloading the single-use Auto-Spiker/bag assembly into "spiking position"

a. To load:

1. Insert the spiker/bag assembly into the "locator bridge" on the shelf.

2. Snap single-use Auto-Spiker into machine's "spiker driver".

b. To unload:

1. Retract if the spiker drive is in spiked position (see retract steps above).

2. Remove the Auto-Spiker from the machine's spiker driver by depressing its locking tab and lift up.

3. Remove the spiker/bag assembly from the locator bridge.

5. Arming/disarming the Auto-Spikers (located on the display control panel)

a. To arm:

1. Select the appropriate Auto-Spiker Station by the "up/down" arrow buttons on the "interactive display"

2. Press the "ARM" button and confirm by a "green" indicator light located in the "Auto-Spiker Station" display control panel.

b. To disarm:

1. Press the "ARM" button twice on the "interactive display".

Note: a "red" light indicates that a spiker driver has been activated. "No" light indicates that a spiker driver is idle.

B. Patent Tube Assembly

1. Scrub Nurse

a. Pass off machine the "fluid cartridge" to the circulating nurse.

b. Clip the "tube bundle" to the patient drape at its "pigtail junction", while allowing enough length for the surgeon's needs.

c. Attach the "red stripe" tube line (i.e. vacuum/suction) to the power shaver or vacuum instrument.

d. Attach the "blue stripe" tube line (i.e. vacuum/suction) to the cannula or scope/sheath's outflow port.

e. Attach the "clear" tube line (i.e. inflow) to the cannula or scope sheath's inflow port.

f. If applicable, attach the "dark blue tinted" tube line (i.e. shorter line vacuum/suction) to the drape's fluid collection pouch, otherwise check that the "clamp" is in the closed position.

2. Circulating Nurse

a. To load:

1. Accept the "fluidic cartridge" from the scrub nurse and connect it to the machine's "cartridge receptacle".

2. If applicable, connect the "dark blue tinted" tube line to a floor waste fluid collection device. If not, check that the "clamp" is in the closed position.

3. Attach the suction lines to the appropriate waste canisters.

Note: Assemble same color tubing to same canister--red braided to red stripe tubes, blue braided to dark blue tint tubes, then connect the adjoining canisters to desired arrangement.

Vacuum Lines (i.e. limited re-use, from machine)

Patient--"red braided" end tube.

Floor--"blue braided" end tube.

Waste Fluid Suction Lines (i.e. single-use tubing from cartridge)

Patient--"red stripe" end tube.

Floor--"dark blue tinted" end tube.

b. To unload:

1. Press the "cartridge release button" located above the cartridge. Pull the "cartridge release lever" located above the cartridge until the cartridge releases itself from the unit.

3. Surgeon

a. If using the enclosed sensing needle:

1. Insert the sensing needle into an unobstructed area of the joint/cavity and remove the obturator.

2. Following the "Prime" mode identified in the "operating instructions" below, attach the "double-lumen" tube line (i.e. luer fitting) to the sensing needle (i.e. luer fitting).

b. If using a "double-lumen" sensing cannula:

1. Following the "Prime" mode identified in the "operating instructions" below, attach the "double-lumen" tube line (i.e. luer fitting) to the sensing port of the previously inserted double-lumen cannula.

III. Operating Instructions

    ______________________________________                                         A.      Intended Uses and Recommended Pressure Ranges                                  (+/- 10 mm Hg steady state)                                            ______________________________________                                         1.          Knee           10 to 125 mm Hg                                     2.          Shoulder       10 to 80 mm Hg                                      3.          Elbow          10 to 80 mm Hg                                      4.          Ankle          10 to 80 mm Hg                                      5.          Wrist          10 to 80 mm Hg                                      6.          Sub-acromial space                                                                            10 to 80 mm Hg                                      7.          Full range     10 to 150 mm Hg                                     ______________________________________                                    

B. Operative Commands (located on the "display" panel)

1. "Prime" Button (#1)

"Primes" the system by pumping fluid through the inflow and pressure sensing tubes.

Press button (#1)--Via a cycle, fluid completely fills these lines and evacuates air bubbles.

2. "Run/Pause" Button (#2)

Causes the system to either "run" fluid flow or "pause" fluid flow. The system is in the "pause" mode upon startup with the pump stopped and the "R" and "T" valves in the closed position. The "green LED" light indicates the active mode (i.e. run, pause).

Press button (#2)--To activate either the "run" or "pause" mode.

3. "Auto-Pressure" Button (#3)

Indicates the "mean blood pressure" and automatically controls the pressure setting via a "set pressure differential"; for example, if the mean BP is 100 mm Hg and the desired "set pressure differential" is 10 mm Hg below the mean, then the system will automatically maintain a pressure setting of 90 mm Hg and follow and adjust (e.g. raises, lowers) to the mean BP respectively.

Press button (#3) & adjust with "Pressure up/down" buttons (#4, #5)--To select either the manual or automatic pressure setting mode. The green LED light on the "Auto Pressure" button indicates an active mode, as well as the "Mean BP" display window (i.e. colored numbers).

a. The "Automatic" mode will default to a factory mm Hg setting, but the user can override it via the "Pressure" buttons (i.e. #4--up, #5--down (see below)) to the desired SET PRESSURE level differential.

b. Review the "Recommended Pressure Settings and adjust the "Upper SET PRESSURE Limit" to the desired setting.

Note: Both the Auto BP and Manual SET PRESSURE modes provide the ability to assist in achieving hemostasis. The use of a tourniquet in conjunction with these modes, may allow for a lower SET PRESSURE setting, which should be determined by the user.

4. "Pressure" Buttons (#4& #5)

Adjusts the "pressure setting" up or down to the desired level. The display shows the pressure setting values in "mm Hg" and "Feet WC". The pressure "Set" value is located in the bottom window displays. The "Actual" pressure value is located in both the top windows and via the green LED "bar graph" (e.g. measured in mm Hg and Feet WC).

Note: The "pressure" setting will default to a factory mm Hg setting, but the user can override it via the "Pressure" buttons (i.e. #4--up, #5--down).

Press button (#4)--To increase the pressure setting to the desired level.

Press button (#5)--To decrease the pressure setting to the desired level.

Note: Both the Auto BP and Manual SET PRESSURE modes provide the ability to assist in achieving hemostasis. The use of a tourniquet in conjunction with these modes, may allow for a lower SET PRESSURE setting, which should be determined by the user.

5. "Clear view" Button (#6)

Provides a set "fluid cycle" that will attempt to "clear" the surgical field, a combination of increased pressure and flow for a specific time period (e.g. relative cycle). A green LED light indicates an active mode.

Press button (#6)--To clear the surgical field from debris and unclear fluid.

Re-press button (#6)--If you do not want to wait for its cycle to finish, press to return to prior settings.

Note: A built-in safety feature prevents the "AquaCenter 2000" from exceeding its pressure limits.

6. "Burr/Shaver" Button (#7)

While using a "burr", it provides the surgeon with an optimal inflow/suction flow rate in order to better maintain dissention, minimize viewing turbulence and fluid consumption. The same theory applies, but at different flow rates when using an arthroscopic power shaver or another arthroscopic suction dependent instrument. A green LED light indicates an active mode.

Press button (#7)--Toggle to "Burr" when using an arthroscopic burr. Toggle to "Shaver" when using an arthroscopic power shaver or another arthroscopic suction dependent instrument.

7. "Flow" Buttons (#8 and #9)

Adjusts the "Flow Rate" (i.e. #8--down, #9--up) to the desired level. The green LED "Flow Rate" graph displays flow rate range of "low" (e.g. relative ml/min), "mid" (e.g. relative ml/min).

Press button (#8)--To decrease the "Flow Rate" range to the desired level.

Press button (#9)--To increase the "Flow Rate range to the desired level.

8. "Lavage" Button (#10)

A factory set "fluid cycle" that will provide a "lavage" type action to the surgical site to assist in flushing out the debris. It's a combination of various pressures and flow rates for a specific time period (e.g. relative cycle). A green LED light indicates an active mode.

Press button (#10)--To lavage the surgical site for a relative cycle period.

Re-press button (#10)--If you do not want to wait for its cycle to finish, press to return to prior settings.

9. "Drain" Button (#11)

Provides the surgeon with a means to "drain" the fluid from the surgical site. A green LED light indicates an active mode.

Press button (#11)--To drain the fluid from the surgical site.

Re-press button (#11)--To return to prior settings.

Note: The drain may provide a notable vacuum pressure until the mode is de-activated.

10. "Menu" button (#12)

Provides step by step instructions for set-up and operation. The information is displayed in the "alpha display".

Press button (#12)--To index through the set-up and operation instructions.

C. Message Center (located in the "alpha display")

Serves as a warning device alerting the user to address situations which are of major concern to the AquaCenter model 2000 functionality. This troubleshooting type feature illustrates the applicable messages in the alpha display, and more than one message can be highlighted at a time. The messages are identified below with a detailed description.

1. "Overpressure"

Activates when the "cavity pressure" has exceeded the "set pressure" by an out of tolerance level. The light turns off when this condition is corrected.

Action:

Check that the waste canisters are not completely full.

Check that the tubing lines are not kinked or clamped.

Check that the pressure sense tubing lines do not have any air.

Check that the cannula valves/stopcocks are completely opened.

Check that the "sensing needle" or cannula is in place and not obstructed.

2. "High Line Restriction"

Activates when the "line pressure" (i.e. inflow line) is within the tolerance level of the maximum allowed pressure prior to pump shut-down. The light turns off when the "line pressure" drops below this threshold.

Action:

Check that the "inflow port" is completely opened.

Check that the tubing lines are not kinked/clamped.

Check that the tubing lines are not plugged.

Check that the "sensing needle or cannula" is in place and not obstructed.

3. "Set Flow Higher"

Activates when the "automatic flow increase function" has increased the flow rate, but has failed to maintain the "set pressure" in the Cavity. The light goes off when the proper flow rate has been achieved via a "manual increase".

Action:

Check for excessive leakage at portal sites and take action to slow fluid leakage.

Increase the "Flow Rate" to the next level and continue incremental increase until "light goes out" (e.g. Flow "up-arrow").

4. "Set Flow Lower"

Activates when the "automatic flow decrease function" has decreased the flow rate, but the "actual pressure" is still too high. The light goes off when the proper flow rate has been achieved via a "manual decrease".

Action:

Check that the tubing lines are not kinked.

Check that the tubing lines are not plugged.

Check that the waste canisters are not full.

Decrease the "Flow Rate" to the next level and continue incremental decrease until the light goes out"(e.g. Flow "down-arrow").

5. "Check BP Line"

Activates when there is either an interruption in the "blood pressure line signal" or the "blood pressure reading" is questionable (e.g. change has been greater than 50% over the previous measurement). The system will automatically go into the "Pause" mode until either the problem has been resolved or until the user "re-starts" (i.e. Run mode) the system.

Note: The system automatically enters the "Pause" mode.

Action:

Check that the interface cable is properly connected to the anesthesiologist's blood pressure output port.

Press the "Run" and "Auto" buttons to re-start the system.

6. "Turn Off Auto Pressure"

Activates when a second occurrence of the "Check BP Line" has happened within a measured time frame. If BP is not within the range of 20 to 150 mm Hg, then the "Auto" function can not be activated. The light goes off when the "Auto Pressure" is turned off.

Action:

Check that the BP line is properly connected into the machine.

Turn the "Auto Pressure" off until the problem is solved.

7. "Check Sensor Line"

Activates when either the "joint/cavity pressure" is significantly lower than the "Set Pressure" or if "joint/cavity pressure" is near "zero" and the "line pressure" is high.

Note: The system automatically enters the "Pause" mode.

Action:

Check for excessive leakage at portal sites and take action to slow fluid leakage.

Check that the tubing lines are not kinked.

Check that the sensing needle or cannula is properly placed and not plugged or obstructed.

Check that the tubing lines are in place and are not plugged.

Press the "Run" button to restart the system.

8. "Reload Bag--Fluid Empty"

"Reload Bags" activates when the "last bag" available has just been spiked and it is time to reload the system.

"Empty" activates when the "last bag" is within the range of being completely empty. The "Pause" mode is automatically activated until the "Alarm silence" button is pressed or the bag(s) have been reloaded and armed.

Note: The light(s) continue to blink until the bag(s) has been reloaded or the alarm silence button has been pressed.

Action:

Press the alarm silence button.

Check that all the "full bags" have been spiked and if any are occluded.

Check that the desired usable fluid bags have been "armed".

Reload bags using sterile technique, starting with the "first" bag receptacle and continuing in sequential order for the estimated number of bags required to finish the procedure.

If at conclusion of procedure and no more fluid is required than is available, press the "alarm silence" button twice.

D. Abbreviations

BP Blood pressure.

Feet WC A pressure reading measured in "Feet of Water Closet". Indication of the equivalent height of a fluid bag placed above a patient's cavity/joint.

LED Light Emitting Diode, small lights on control panel usually used to indicate status of a particular item.

mm Hg A pressure reading measured in "millimeters of Mercury".

R, T Valve "R" denotes outflow actuator, "T" denotes shaver/suction instrument actuator. 

We claim:
 1. An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:means for supplying an uninterrupted supply of irrigation fluid; means for pumping said irrigation fluid from said irrigation fluid supply to a body cavity to create pressure inside said body cavity; a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity; a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity; means for creating a vacuum in said fluid discharge conduit to create suction inside said body cavity; pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside said body cavity; and means for controlling said suction and pressure inside said body cavity wherein said pumping means is a peristaltic pump, and said means for controlling said suction and pressure comprise a processor controlling the pump speed of said peristaltic pump and the rate of fluid flowing through said supply conduit to said body cavity; a pressure transducer for sensing the pressure inside the body cavity, said processor communicating with said pressure transducer; and at least one valve for controlling the rate of fluid flow from said body cavity, said processor controlling said valve; wherein said processor communicates with a display console and a hand held remote control having a plurality of control buttons for an operator to manually input functions to control said peristaltic pump speed, said pressure inside the body cavity and for the control by said processor of said pump and said valves.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said input functions are functions that involve controlling the pressure and flow of irrigation fluid inside the body cavity and are selected from the group consisting of lavage, clear view, burr, and shaver.
 3. The invention according to claim 1, where said input functions are functions that involve controlling the pressure and flow of irrigation fluid inside the body cavity and are selected from the group consisting of pause, run and drain.
 4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling further comprises a blood pressure transducer communicating with said processor the mean blood pressure associated with said body cavity, and said processor controlling said pump and said valves to vary the body cavity pressure to track said body cavity mean blood pressure.
 5. An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:means for supplying an uninterrupted supply of irrigation fluid; means for pumping said irrigation fluid from said irrigation fluid supply to a body cavity to create pressure inside said body cavity; a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity; a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity; means for creating a vacuum in said fluid discharge conduit to create suction inside said body cavity; pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside said body cavity; means for controlling said suction and pressure inside said body cavity, wherein said means for controlling said suction and pressure comprises a processor receiving signals from said pressure sensing means relating to the pressure inside said body cavity, a valve controlling the flow of fluid through said fluid discharge conduit, and said processor controlling the amount of fluid discharged from said body cavity and said pressure inside said body cavity by selectively opening and closing said valve, and further comprising a second fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity, and a second valve controlling the flow of fluid through said second conduit in said second conduit and controlled by said processor.
 6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein said second valve is randomly opened and closed by said controlling means at a predetermined frequency for a preselected period of time during certain predetermined procedures involving the discharge of tissue from said body cavity.
 7. The invention according to claim 5, wherein said valve to said fluid discharge conduit and said second valve to said second fluid discharge conduit are variable controlled valves.
 8. The invention according to claim 7, second valve is randomly opened and closed by said controlling means at a predetermined frequency for a preselected period of time during said procedures involving the discharge of tissue.
 9. The invention according to claim 5, wherein said fluid discharge conduits comprise flexible tubing and said valve to said fluid discharge conduit and said second valve to said second fluid discharge conduit are valves that pinch said flexible tubing either fully closed shut or allow said tubing to be fully open to flow.
 10. An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:means for supplying an uninterrupted supply of irrigation fluid; means for pumping said irrigation fluid from said irrigation fluid supply to a body cavity to create pressure inside said body cavity; a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity; a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity; means for creating a vacuum in said fluid discharge conduit to create suction inside said body cavity; pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside said body cavity; means for controlling said suction and pressure inside said body cavity, wherein said means for creating said vacuum comprises a vacuum pump connected to a vacuum accumulator tank, with said tank connected to said fluid discharge conduit, further comprising:a second fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity, and a second valve controlled by said means for controlling said suction and pressure, to control the fluid flowing through said second fluid discharge conduit; said second fluid discharge conduit in-line with a waste disposal trap, said second valve opened by said controlling means to allow said second fluid discharge conduit to receive waste fluid from said body cavity during procedures involving the discharge of tissue from said body cavity.
 11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein said vacuum pump generates sufficient vacuum in said fluid discharge conduit to achieve a negative pressure in the range of up to 350 mm-Hg of vacuum, and said means for pumping is a positive displacement pump generating sufficient pressure in said supply conduit to achieve a positive pressure in the range of up to 500 mm-Hg of pressure.
 12. The invention according to claim 10, wherein said second valve is randomly opened and closed by said controlling means at predetermined frequency for a preselected period of time during said procedures involving the discharge of tissue.
 13. An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:means for supplying an uninterrupted supply of irrigation fluid; means for pumping said irrigation fluid from said irrigation fluid supply to a body cavity to create pressure inside said body cavity; a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity; a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity; means for creating a vacuum in said fluid discharge conduit to create suction inside said body cavity; pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside said body cavity; means for controlling said suction and pressure inside said body cavity; an accumulator in fluid communication with said supply conduit and connected between said pumping means and said body cavity, wherein said accumulator has an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vent port to atmosphere, said inlet port receiving irrigation fluid from said pumping means, said outlet port discharging said irrigation fluid to flexible conduits leading to said body cavity, wherein said accumulator is sealed from atmosphere and vents to atmosphere through said vent port, said accumulator receiving pressurized irrigation fluid from said pumping means.
 14. The invention according to claim 13, wherein said accumulator contains two fluid level sensors to determine the level of fluid within said accumulator.
 15. An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:means for supplying an uninterrupted supply of irrigation fluid; means for pumping said irrigation fluid from said irrigation fluid supply to a body cavity to create pressure inside said body cavity; a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity; a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity; means for creating a vacuum in said fluid discharge conduit to create suction inside said body cavity; pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside said body cavity; means for controlling said suction and pressure inside said body cavity, said means for providing an uninterrupted supply of irrigation fluid comprising a plurality of sealed bags each containing a predetermined amount of said irrigation fluid; each said bag being fixedly mounted on a housing; and means for spiking each said sealed bag to allow fluid communication with said supply conduit, wherein said means for spiking is controlled by a processor to allow the uninterrupted flow of fluid from said sealed bag to said body cavity.
 16. The invention according to claim 15, wherein said means for spiking comprises a trocar mounted on a hollow piston housed in a piston chamber and said trocar being protracted from said housing to spike said sealed bag;said piston chamber and said hollow piston having fluid ports, said ports in fluid communication when said trocar is protracted, to allow said irrigation fluid from spiked sealed bag to flow into said supply conduit.
 17. The invention according to claim 16, wherein said hollow piston is actuated to a protracted position by a linear actuator.
 18. The invention according to claim 17, wherein said linear actuator is a pneumatic cylinder.
 19. The invention according to claim 15:wherein said means for spiking said sealed bag is in fluid communication with a portion of said supply conduit; wherein a plurality of bags are mounted on said housing, each of said plurality of bags having said means for spiking said sealed bag; further comprising a manifold having a plurality of inlet ports for receiving said portion of said supply conduits from said spiking means, said manifold having at least one outlet port leading to said means for pumping; a flow interrupt fluid sensor for sensing the absence of irrigation fluid in said manifold; a processor for receiving signals from said flow interrupt sensor and for controlling said spiking means to spike said bags, wherein said sealed bags are sequentially spiked by said spiking means through control by said processor whenever said flow interrupt fluid sensor indicates the absence of irrigation fluid in said manifold.
 20. The invention according to claim 19, further comprising:a pressurized accumulator chamber having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vent to atmosphere; wherein said pumping means comprises a peristaltic pump having a plurality of drive rollers, and said supply conduit is flexible tubing surrounding said peristaltic pump drive rollers; wherein said pressure sensing means comprise a pressure transducer; said accumulator inlet port connected to said peristaltic pump to receive pressurized irrigation fluid into said pressurized accumulator chamber, and said outlet port connected to said supply flexible tubing and discharging irrigation fluid to said body cavity.
 21. The invention according to claim 20,wherein said means for controlling comprise said processor, said processor receiving signals from a pressure transducer for sensing pressure inside the body cavity, and controlling a plurality of valves to control the rate of fluid flow through said discharge conduit and said processor controlling the pump speed of said peristaltic pump to control the rate of irrigation fluid flow to said body cavity.
 22. The invention according to claim 21, further comprising a fluid level sensor in said accumulator to determine the level of fluid within said accumulator, said fluid level sensor communicating with said processor.
 23. An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:means for supplying an uninterrupted supply of irrigation fluid; means for pumping said irrigation fluid from said irrigation fluid supply to a body cavity to create pressure inside said body cavity; a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity; a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity; means for creating a vacuum in said fluid discharge conduit to create suction inside said body cavity; pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside said body cavity; means for controlling said suction and pressure inside said body cavity wherein said means for providing said uninterrupted supply of irrigation fluid comprises a plurality of sealed bags containing a predetermined amount of said irrigation fluid; each said bag is fixedly mounted on a vertical post from a carousel; and means for spiking each said sealed bag to allow fluid communication with said supply conduit, wherein said means for spiking is controlled by a processor to allow the uninterrupted flow of fluid from said sealed bag to said body cavity.
 24. The invention according to claim 23, wherein said means for spiking comprises a trocar mounted on a hollow piston housed in a piston chamber and said trocar being protracted from said housing to spike each said sealed bag;said piston chamber and said hollow piston having fluid ports, said ports in fluid communication when said trocar is protracted, to allow said irrigation fluid from spiked sealed bag to flow into said supply conduit.
 25. The invention according to claim 23, wherein said means for spiking said sealed bag is in fluid communication with a portion of said supply conduit;further comprising a manifold having a plurality of inlet ports for receiving said portion of said supply conduits from said spiking means, said manifold having at least one outlet port leading to said means for pumping; a flow interrupt fluid sensor for sensing the absence of irrigation fluid in said manifold; a processor for receiving signals from said flow interrupt sensor and for controlling said spiking means to spike said bags, wherein said sealed bags are sequentially spiked by said spiking means through control by said processor whenever said flow interrupt fluid sensor indicates the absence of irrigation fluid in said manifold.
 26. An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:means for supplying an uninterrupted supply of irrigation fluid; means for pumping said irrigation fluid from said irrigation fluid supply to a body cavity to create pressure inside said body cavity; a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity; a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity; means for creating a vacuum in said fluid discharge conduit to create suction inside said body cavity; pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside said body cavity; means for controlling said suction and pressure inside said body cavity wherein said pressure sensing means comprises:a sense line for sensing pressure in said body cavity; a branch line of a smaller diameter than said supply line, located outside said body cavity, connecting said supply line to said sense line to allow fluid communication between the lines; a differential pressure transducer for converting differential fluid pressure into an electrical signal representing fluid pressure, said differential pressure transducer having two ports, each measuring a pressure P1 and P2, with one of said ports in fluid communication with said sense line and the other said port in fluid communication with said supply line; wherein the differential pressure transducer measures the difference between pressures P1 and P2 for calculating the pressure inside the cavity.
 27. The invention according to claim 26, a compensating line operatively connected to one of the two differential pressure transducer ports, said compensating line open at one end to atmosphere and of a substantially small enough diameter that the liquid supplied to the body cavity drips out the compensating line with substantially no pressure loss in said body cavity.
 28. An apparatus for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:means for providing an uninterrupted and continuous supply of fluid for irrigation of a body cavity; means for pressurizing the irrigation fluid to a body cavity to create pressure inside the body cavity; a flexible supply conduit inflow line connecting the supply of irrigation fluid to the body cavity; a fluid discharge conduit outflow line leading from the body cavity to withdraw fluid from the body cavity; means for creating a vacuum in the fluid discharge conduit outflow line to create suction inside the body cavity; and means for controlling the suction and pressure inside the body cavity, wherein the containers are flexible bags and wherein the means to sequentially access each of the plurality of containers comprises a hollow piston inserted into the containers by a pneumatic cylinder fired in response to a signal from the processor.
 29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the means for providing an uninterrupted and continuous supply of fluid comprise a plurality of flexible bags hanging from an upright position, said bags each containing a predetermined quantity of the irrigation fluid, and spiking means to sequentially spike each of the plurality of containers, the spiking means operatively connected to the flexible conduit.
 30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the means for providing an uninterrupted and continuous supply of fluid comprising a plurality of containers each containing a predetermined quantity of the irrigation fluid, and means to sequentially access each of the plurality of containers individually.
 31. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the means for pressurizing the irrigation fluid is a positive displacement peristaltic pump.
 32. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the means for creating a vacuum comprises a vacuum pump, wherein the vacuum pump is connected to a vacuum tank, the peristaltic pump pumps irrigation fluid into a pressurized accumulator, and further comprising a pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside the body cavity.
 33. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a valve to control the rate of fluid passing through the outflow line, and wherein the means for controlling the vacuum and pressure inside the body cavity comprises a processor that controls the peristaltic pump and the valve, the processor receiving signals from the pressure sensing means.
 34. The apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising a second outflow line substantially in parallel with the outflow line leading from the body cavity, and a second valve to control the rate of fluid passing through the second outflow line, and wherein the processor controls the second valve.
 35. An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:a housing; a supply of irrigation fluid, said supply of irrigation fluid provided by a plurality of bags hanging vertically from a carousel mounted on a post on said housing; a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity; separate means for spiking each of said bags to allow fluid communication with said supply conduit, whereby more than one bag may be in fluid communication with said supply conduit; a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity; means for pressurizing said supply of irrigation fluid; pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside said body cavity.
 36. The improved fluid management system according to claim 35, further comprising:means for creating a vacuum in said fluid discharge conduit to create suction inside said body cavity; and means for controlling said suction and pressure inside said body cavity, wherein said means for controlling said suction and pressure comprises a processor.
 37. The improved fluid management system according to claim 35, further comprising an accumulator chamber having an inlet port, and an outlet port, said accumulator receiving fluid from said supply of irrigation fluid in said inlet port and discharging fluid to said supply conduit in said outlet port.
 38. A auto-accumulating, gravity feed pressure based fluid management apparatus comprising:a housing; a supply of irrigation fluid, said supply of irrigation fluid provided by a plurality of bags hanging vertically from a carousel mounted on a post on said housing; a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity; a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity; pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside said body cavity; an accumulator in fluid communication with said supply conduit and connected between said supply of irrigation fluid and said body cavity; wherein pressure is provided to said irrigation fluid by the gravity head by said plurality of bags.
 39. An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:a supply of irrigation fluid; means for pumping said irrigation fluid from said irrigation fluid supply to a body cavity; a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity; a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity; an accumulator in fluid communication with said supply conduit and connected between said pumping means and said body cavity, a post for mounting said accumulator, wherein said accumulator is raised to a height above said pumping means wherein said accumulator is pressurized with irrigation fluid by said means for pumping and has an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vent port to atmosphere, said inlet port receiving irrigation fluid from said pumping means, said outlet port discharging said irrigation fluid to flexible conduits leading to said body cavity, wherein said accumulator is sealed from atmosphere and vents to atmosphere through said vent port, said accumulator receiving pressurized irrigation fluid from said pumping means, and further comprising a weight sensor mounted on said post for weighing the contents of said accumulator.
 40. A fluid management system for the uninterrupted supply of fluid to a body cavity, comprising:a supply of fluid comprising a plurality of sealed containers each containing a predetermined supply of fluid; means for pumping said fluid from said fluid supply to a body cavity; a supply conduit connecting said supply of fluid to said body cavity; means for spiking each sealed container to allow fluid communication with said supply conduit, wherein said means for spiking comprises a trocar mounted on a hollow piston housed in a piston chamber and said trocar is protracted from said housing to spike said sealed container, said piston chamber and said hollow piston having fluid ports, said ports in fluid communication when said trocar is protracted, to allow said irrigation fluid from the spiked container to flow into said supply conduit.
 41. The invention according to claim 40, wherein said hollow piston is actuated to a protracted position by a linear actuator;a processor controlling said linear actuator, wherein each of said plurality of containers is spiked sequentially by said processor.
 42. The invention according to claim 41:further comprising a manifold having a plurality of inlet ports for receiving a portion of said supply conduits from said spiking means, said manifold having at least one outlet port leading to said means for pumping; a flow interrupt fluid sensor for sensing the absence of irrigation fluid in said manifold; a processor for receiving signals from said flow interrupt sensor and for controlling said spiking means to spike said bags, wherein said sealed bags are sequentially spiked by said spiking means through control by said processor whenever said flow interrupt fluid sensor indicates the absence of irrigation fluid in said manifold.
 43. A spiker for the spiking of a flexible saline bag comprising:a trocar mounted on a hollow piston housed in a piston chamber within a housing, said trocar in close proximity to a flexible sealed bag containing fluid having an inlet and fixedly secured with respect to said trocar; said trocar being protracted from said housing to spike said sealed bag; said piston chamber and said hollow piston having fluid ports, said ports in fluid communication when said trocar is protracted, to allow said fluid from the spiked sealed bag to flow into a supply conduit, wherein said hollow piston is actuated to a protracted position by a linear actuator.
 44. The invention according to claim 43, wherein said linear actuator is a pneumatic cylinder.
 45. A fluid accumulator for a peristaltic fluid delivery system in a medical fluid irrigation system comprising:a peristaltic pump; an accumulator chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port; said accumulator inlet port leading into said chamber and connected to said peristaltic pump to receive fluid from said pump, and said outlet port discharging said fluid.
 46. The fluid accumulator according to claim 45, further comprising a plurality of sensors in said accumulator chamber to sense the level of said pump fluid in said chamber.
 47. The fluid accumulator according to claim 46, wherein said accumulator is sealed to atmosphere and has an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vent to atmosphere.
 48. An improved cavity pressure sensing system for measuring pressure in a cavity containing a mixture of air and liquid, comprising:an inflow line for supplying liquid to a cavity; a sense line for sensing pressure in the cavity; a branch line of a smaller diameter than the inflow line, located outside the cavity, connecting the inflow line to the sense line to allow fluid communication between the lines; a differential pressure transducer for converting differential fluid pressure into an electrical signal representing fluid pressure, the differential pressure transducer having two ports, each measuring a pressure P1 and P2, with one of the ports in fluid communication with the sense line and the other port in fluid communication with the supply line; a compensating line operatively connected to one of the two differential pressure transducer ports, said compensating line open at one end to atmosphere and of a substantially small enough diameter that the liquid supplied to the cavity drips out the compensating line with substantially no pressure loss in the cavity; wherein the differential pressure transducer measures the difference between pressures P1 and P2 to calculate the pressure inside the cavity.
 49. The method of irrigating a body cavity during arthroscopic surgery with an improved fluid management system comprising the steps of:supplying an uninterrupted supply of saline solution under pressure, in the range of up to 180 mm-Hg inside a body cavity; inserting a flexible supply tubing to deliver said pressurized saline solution in a surgical incision site of said body cavity where arthroscopic surgery is to be performed; inserting flexible discharge tubing in said incision site to withdraw body cavity fluid from said body cavity; pumping said pressurized saline solution through said flexible supply tubing into said surgical incision site; withdrawing waste fluid from the body cavity through said flexible discharge tubing through suction, in the range of up to 180 mm-Hg vacuum inside said body cavity; monitoring and controlling the supply of said saline solution, the pumping of said saline solution and the withdrawal of waste fluid from said body cavity with a processors, measuring the pressure inside said body cavity with a pressure sensing transducer; monitoring and controlling the flow of fluid from said body cavity to chance the pressure inside said body cavity and track said pressure according to a predetermined set pressure; said monitoring and controlling performed by said processor and at least one valve controlled by said processor that selectively opens and closes the flow of waste fluid through said flexible discharge tubing; attenuating the surges associated with pumping said pressurized saline solution through an accumulator; supplying said uninterrupted supply of saline solution through a plurality of containers having flexible opening capable of perforation; automatically perforating said flexible opening of said containers with a trocar, said trocar actuated by a linear actuator that is controlled by said processor. 